Wheeled toy



A. G. BECK.

WHEELED TOY.

APPLICATION FILED ms. 28. 1920.

1,364,684. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

I "I V .7

ARTHUR G. BECK, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

WHEELED TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed February 28, 1920. Serial No. 361,929. a

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. BECK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwich, in the county of New London and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWheeled Toys, of which the following is a specification. Y

The invention relatesto a wheeled toy, and more particularly to theclass of convertible wheeled and rocker toys.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy of thischaracter, wherein the wheels are mounted in a novel manner so that thesame can be adjusted, whereby when in one position will constitutetraction wheels so that the toy can be used as a vehicle and when inanother position will be elevated from a surface so that the body of thetoy will be supported upon rockers and thereby be converted into arocking seat, the toy being of novel construction so as to enable theadjustment thereof for the easy and convenient converting of the sameeither into a wheeled vehicle or a rocking toy.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy of thischaracter, wherein the front steering roller or wheel is journaled in ahanger mounted in a novel manner and connected with a steering columnwhich is engaged with the head of the toy in a unique manner so that thesaid toy when converted into a vehicle can be properly steered andconveniently manipulated by the user of the to 1; further object of theinvention is the provision of a toy of this character, wherein the rearwheel axle is mounted in the rockers in a novel manner so that said axlecan be readily and conveniently adjusted and when in adjusted positionwill be sustained against accidental displacement so as not to interferewith the converted disposition of the toy.

A still further object of the invention is i the provision of a toy ofthis character, which is comparatively simple in construction, strong,durable, the parts being assent,

bled in a unique manner, readily and easily converted into a movablevehicle or rocker, thoroughly reliable and eificient in its purpose, andinexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as willbe hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accom an in drawin and pointed out in the cl aiimhgreunto a5 pended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy constructed in accordance withthe invention, the wheels of the toy being shown in operative position.

1g. 2 1s a vertical longitudinal sectional view, showingby full linesthe disposition of the wheels when operative and by dotted lines thedisposition of the wheels when in inoperative position for the use ofthe toy as a rocker.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional I sectional view taken throughthe front steering column and front wheel hanger showing in detail thelatch.

F 1g, 5 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevat on of the parts shown inFig. 4.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the toy comprises a body structureformed with a main board 10 provided at its rear end portion with a seat11, while the forward portion is shaped to provide a head bearing 12.Secured to the underside of the board 10 in any suitable manner andlongitudinally disposed relative thereto are spaced parallel rockers 13provided with the usual curved edges 14 serving as treads for saidrocker when the body structure is converted for use as a rocking seat.

Interposed between the rockers 13 beneath the seat 11 formed from theboard 10 is a cross-brace 15, which is secured in place in any suitablemanner and formed in the runners 13 in advance of said brace 15 andslightly beneath the same are substantially C-shaped slots 16 which areadapted to register with each other and receive therein a rear axle 17,which is freely movable in the slots 16 to permit the adjustment of said1 nected one end of a coiled retractile spring I 21, the opposite endthereof being connected the axle 17 bein wearing surface when the headmember 27 is turned for the steering of the toy.-

to an eye member 22 fixed in the cross brace 15'and this spring 21serves to support the" rear axle 1-7 engaged in the seat 18 formed atthe lowermost terminals of the slots 16, manually moved in the slots 16to shift t e same into vthe terminal seats 18 ofsaid'slots when it isdesired .to raise or lower the rear traction wheels 19 as is'clearlyshown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. When theaxle 17 is engaged in the seat18 formed by the lowermost terminals of the slot s16 the rear wheels 19will be in a osi- 1 tion to contact with a surface and thus" ".old thebody structure elevated from said surface so as to render the bodystructure mobile at the rearportion thereof.

Formed centrall modating the furcated stem 24 o-fa turning column 25 theenlarged end; portion of which constitutes a rest shoulder 26 -for theboard 10 when thestem 24 is journaled in the opening 23 therein. 7 Thefurcated stem 24 has detachably fitted in its bifurcationa' head'member27 which simulates a portion of the body and head ofan. animal, fowl orthe like. The head member 27 is'fastened in the ,stem 24 through themedium of a cross pin 28 which istightened trans-.

versely through the stem. and said head member. 1 Superimposed upon thebearing 12 and surrounding the stem .24 of the steercolumn 25 to bedisposed between the bearing 12'and the head member 27 is a centrallyperforated disk 29 which prevents the wabbling of the stem 24 andconstitutes a -Mounted transversely in the head-member 27 is a handlebar 30 which may be conveniently grasped by the rideriof the toy forsteering the same during the travel of said toy or when the latter isconverted into a rocking seat to steadysaid rider when occu ying theseat 11 of the body structure.

wingingly connected to the enlarged lower end of the steering column 25is a hanger 31 in which is journaled the front guide orsteeringwheel 32,the said hanger being connected to the column 25. through the medium ofa leaf hinge 33, while diametrically opposite the said hinge and carrledby the column 25 is a latch casing 34 with which is fitted a spring heldlatch. 35 adapted for v detachable engagement with a keeper 36 securedon' the hanger 31 for verti- Y cal alinenient with the latch casing 34and cates the front guide or steering wheel 32, for travel upon asurface and thereby elein this manner the hanger 31- can be fas-4 'tenedin vertical alinement with the steering column 25 and when in thisposition lovating the front end portion of the frame structure to renderthe same mobile at'itsin the front-head bearing 12 is a suitab e opening23 for'accom t forward end; When the latch 35 is released can contactwith the ground or like surface when the rear axle 17 is adjusted in theslot 16 to engage in the seats 18 formed in the upper terminals of saidslots and in this manner the toy is converted into a rocking seat aswill be clearly obvious.

It will be clearly apparent that the toy can be conveniently convertedfor use as a vehicle or a rockingseat and when in use as a vehicle canbe readily and conveniently steered by the occupant of theseat 11, thetoy being attractive in appearance, will afford amusement and pleasureto the user.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner ofoperation of a the toy will be clearly understood andtherefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted.

What I claim is: 1. A toy of the character described com-- prising abody structure forming a seat and rockers, a front steering columnjournaled vertically in the frame structure and having a furcated stem,a head member removably fitted within the bifurcation in said stem,means for detachably fastening the head member engaged in the stem, ahanger swingingly connected to the steering column and having a tractionroller, means .for latching'the hanger in vertical "alinement with thesteering column, a rear axle adj ustablymounted in the runner, reartraction wheels on the said axle, and tension means connected with theframe structure and said rear axle.

- 2. A toy of the character described comprising a frame structureforming a seat and rockers, said rockers having substantially C-shapedslots registering with each other and disposed near the rear ends ofsaid rockers, a rear axle freely movable. in the slots and adapted to beseated in opposite ends thereof, a tension means connected with theframe structure and said rear axle 'to exert a pull upon the latter inthe direcward end portion of the frame structure and having afurcatedstem, a head member removably fitted within the bifurcationinsaid stem, a cross'handle' carried by the head member, means'fordetachably securing" the 3 4 head member in the stem, a hangerswingingly connected to the column between the rockers, means fordetachably locking the hanger in verticalalinement with the steeringcolumn, and a front traction wheel journaled in the hanger.

'3. A toy of the character described comprising a frame structureforming a seat and rockers, said rockers having substantially C-shapedslots registering with each other and disposed near the rear ends ofsaid rockers, a rear axle freely movable in the slots and adapted to beseated in opposite ends thereof, a tension means connected with theframe structure and said rear axle to exert a pull upon the latter inthe direction of the lower ends of the slots, rear traction wheelsjournaled on said rear axle, a front steering column journaled in theforward end portion of the frame structure and having a furcated stem, ahead member removably fitted within the bifurcation in said stem, across handle carried by the head member, means for detachabl securingthe head member in the stem, a hanger swingingly connected to the columnbetween the rockers, means for detachably locking the hanger in verticalalinement with the steering column, a front traction Wheel journaled inthe hanger, and a disk fitted about the stem between the head member andthe frame structure.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

ARTHUR G. BECK.

